Life's not all sweet for FA despite 150th anniversary celebrations

There is an imminent threat of Government legislation facing the FA even after Minister for Sport Hugh Robertson called their 150th anniversary ‘an extraordinary achievement’ yesterday.

The Select Committee response in the next 10 days to the FA’s plans — or lack of them — for governance reform is expected to be highly scathing of the football authorities for sitting on their hands. This could open the way for legislation, possibly in the next session of Parliament.

And such an incendiary verdict from an all-party DCMS Select Committee would give Robertson the ammunition to be a lot more critical of the FA’s reform impasse. This despite the fact that the Roger Draper-led Lawn Tennis Association have replaced the FA as the worst-governed sport in the country — in the Minister for Sport’s opinion.

Robertson said: ‘We have identified one worse. Football has made some progress since I made that remark.’

The Minister also claimed it was ‘complete rubbish’ that FIFA would intervene if Whitehall introduced new laws to bring about the desired football governance changes, mainly blocked by strong FA Council opposition. FA chairman David Bernstein called reform progress ‘slower than it might have been’.

Bernstein row rumbles on

David Bernstein standing down as FA chairman in July — the middle of their 150th anniversary year — was described as ‘crazy’ yesterday by Hugh Robertson. Bernstein has called his 70-year age-limit departure ‘frustrating’ after a botched ballot process over an extension to his term of office.

That is emphasised by fashion house Ted Baker appointing him as their new chairman last week. Robertson says leading international sports figures have registered their astonishment at Bernstein leaving Wembley when the FA had previously indicated that the chairman carrying on would not be a problem.

Robertson said: ‘Nobody can think it’s a sensible idea to change a chairman in the middle of the 150th celebrations. I’ve been asked by significant people how that has been allowed to happen. It does seem crazy. ‘You’re not going to find another David Bernstein in a hurry. He has a pretty unique set of skills.’

Crazy: David Bernstein is unable to continue as FA chairman past July

Big four miss big bash

The invite list for the FA’s birthday party had some intriguing omissions. Not carded were former chairman Lord Triesman, ex-chief executives Graham Kelly and Mark Palios and ITV overlord Adam Crozier, who played a pivotal role in modernising the organisation.

However, another former CEO, Brian Barwick, was there, as was twice stand-in chief David Davies and Crozier’s lieutenant Paul Barber, in his Brighton CEO capacity. Those who declined invites included FA board member Sir Dave Richards.

Predictably, the FA councillors are upset at being excluded from their own bash. But the FA say all the blazers will have seats at the anniversary gala dinner in the same Connaught Rooms in October.

Presenters shine

Sky Sports News presenters Simon Thomas and Hayley McQueen, who hosted the hour-plus televised FA launch, have a lower profile than a lot of less talented sports broadcasters. And the way the pair conducted a complicated live event should lead to more prominence.

Beckham off message

David Beckham is considered the FA’s marquee ambassador but was surprisingly off-message in his video recording for their 150 launch.

Lost in translation: David Beckham's message was short on detail about the FA

Beckham, whose contribution to the event was received at the last minute, kept mentioning the importance of the Premier League — or Premiership, as he called it — rather than concentrating on the FA’s world standing.

The FA are pushing David Gill’s candidature for the UEFA executive to the extent that the United chief executive was given a 150-launch party spot on stage to sing UEFA’s praises. Gill must have votes to win as he was even prepared to talk to media he usually politely sidesteps.